The Wine Pod Luke Flunder

Welcome to the Second Series of The Wine Pod 'For The Love of Wine':
Join us on a journey through our unique approach to wine, enriching your understanding and enjoyment along the way.
In our latest episode, we delve into the post-purchase process, exploring everything from quantities to storage techniques.
To complement the podcast, we're excited to share our expert tips on storage right here:
* Decide what suits your preferences when choosing how many bottles to buy.
* Assess Your Storage Space: Begin by assessing the storage space available in your wine cellar, wine refrigerator, or designated storage area. Measure the dimensions of the space and take note of any shelving or racks available for wine storage.
* Determine Bottle Capacity: Calculate the maximum number of bottles your storage space can hold based on its dimensions and the type of shelving or racks installed. Consider factors such as bottle size (standard 750ml bottles or larger formats), spacing between bottles and any additional storage features like cubbies or compartments.
* Consider Usage Patterns: Evaluate your wine consumption habits and how quickly you typically go through bottles of wine. If you're a casual wine drinker who enjoys wine occasionally, you may not need as much storage capacity compared to someone who collects wine or frequently entertains guests.
* Account for Ageing and Collection Growth: Factor in the ageing potential of certain wines and your desire to build a collection over time. Allow for additional storage space to accommodate ageing wines and future acquisitions. Consider investing in modular storage solutions that can be expanded as your collection grows.
* Plan for Special Occasions: Reserve space for special occasions or events where you may need to stock up on extra bottles of wine. Having a buffer of additional storage capacity ensures you're prepared for unexpected guests or impromptu celebrations.
* Rotate Stock Regularly: To prevent overcrowding and ensure proper air circulation around your wine bottles, practise regular inventory management and rotation to really geek it up. Keep track of the wines in your collection and consume them before they reach their peak maturity to make room for newer bottles.

* Decide where best to store in the house.
* Temperature Control: Keep your wine in a cool, consistent environment, ideally between 7-18°C (45-65°F). Avoid areas prone to rapid temperature changes, such as near heaters, stoves, or in direct sunlight.
* Humidity: Maintain a humidity level of around 60-70%. This prevents corks from drying out, which can lead to oxidation and spoilage. If the air is too dry, consider using a humidifier or storing wine bottles on their sides to keep the corks moist.
* Darkness: Light, especially UV rays, can degrade wine and cause it to develop off-flavours. Store your wine in a dark or dimly lit area to protect it from light exposure. If your storage area has windows, consider covering them or using UV-filtering window treatments.
* Stable Environment: Minimise vibrations and movement around your wine storage area. Vibrations can disturb the sediment in the bottle and negatively impact the ageing process. Choose a location away from appliances like washing machines or mechanical systems.
* Horizontal Storage: Store wine bottles on their sides to keep the cork moist and in contact with the wine. This helps prevent air from seeping into the bottle and spoiling the wine. If you have limited space, invest in wine racks or shelving designed for horizontal storage.
* Avoid Strong Odours: Keep wine away from strong-smelling substances, such as chemicals, paint, or food with potent aromas. Wine can absorb odours, affecting its flavour and aroma profile.
* Consistent Conditions: Aim for a stable environment with minimal temperature and humidity fluctuations. Sudden changes in these conditions can shock the wine and alter its taste.
* Long-Term vs Short-Term Storage: If you plan to consume the wi

Welcome to Series Two of our podcast!
After a brief break, we've been working on how to enhance your listening experience and provide even more value.
Introducing "For The Love of Wine" - a journey where we guide you through our approach to wine, from purchase to the recycling bin.
Our goal is to offer insight that helps you see wine through our eyes, enriching your knowledge and enjoyment.
The first episode is all about how to find the right wine because according to a recent study by Marks & Spencer, a quarter of wine shoppers spend more than ten minutes deliberating over which bottle to buy.
One-third feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, while more than half admit they don't know which wines they like! Bonkers.
The time we take deliberating over what to purchase collectively adds up to more than 50 million squandered hours in a supermarket wine section.
Time is Merlot ladies and gentlemen!
Alongside the pod, we thought it would be helpful to share our top tips on finding the perfect bottle here.
The groundwork:
* Identify your budget - be kind to yourself.
* Identify which style you’re after - think about the occasion.
* Identify your retailer:
* I’d suggest for budgets below £10, opt for supermarkets.
* Between £10 and £15, seek out specialist wine retailers or independents.
* From £15 to £50, explore independent merchants.
* For budgets exceeding £50, indulge in a specialist fine wine merchant or an auctioneer.
* For a comprehensive list of merchants, refer to the invaluable resource on Jancis Robinson’s website.
Before you hit the shops:
* Pull up your wine atlas, use online wine maps and take a look around the world for inspiration.
* Access ‘The List’ of my top five recommendations from each supermarket and beyond - update landing soon.
* Check out the Decanter’s wine review section.
* Like you do when you’re trying to find a recipe, type into Google: “If I like [insert something you like] what wine should I go for?”.
* Give your independent a call with your requirements - they will be glad to hear from you.
* Prepare early - the more you research the more likely you are to enjoy the experience.
When you’re at the shop:
* Generally try to avoid mass-produced big-label wines.
* Have a look for medals from the more respected awards. Here is a good article on what to look out for.
* Use apps such as Vivino and Cellar Tracker.
* Read the descriptors or label info (if there are any).
* Ask a member of staff!
* EXPERIMENT - don’t stick to the tried and tested.
Here is all the info about the episode:
Will’s wine of the week:
LFE 900 Single Vineyard, Chile
Luke’s thought of the week:
When you're at mile 20 of 26 you are only halfway there.
Paula Radcliffe

References:
Zinfandel - grape variety.
Carménère - grape variety.
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary - wine flavours and aromas.
Sweet wines - definition.
Vin de Constance - South African sweet wine.
Trinity Restaurant - Clapham, London.
Tokaji - sweet wine from Hungary.
Botrytis - the fungus removes water from the grapes helping to create sweet wines.
Furmint - grape variety.
Pernand-Vergelesses - wine region in Burgundy.
Santenay - wine region in Burgundy.
Catena/Catena Alta Malbec - from Waitrose.
Ribero del Duero - wine region in Spain.
Grand Rutherglen Muscat - sweet wine from Australia.
Maury - wine region in France.
Pedro Ximenez - sweet style of Sherry.
Sauternes - wine region in France.
As always please like, share and comment.
Stay Corked - Luke & Will


This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lukeflunder.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to our seventh podcast episode!
Raw, unfiltered with plenty of sediment.
Questions this week:
* 2 min 57 What is a vintage?
* 8 mins 32 What's in our glass today?
* 11 mins 13 What about Italian whites?
* 14 mins 20 What does a wooden box bring?
* 21 mins 15 Where's the best place to find a true wine bargain in 2024?
Will’s wine of the week:
Ch Malartic Lagraviere, 2020
Luke’s thought of the week:
300 million Cadbury's Creme Eggs are made each year!

References:
Vintage - the year a wine is made.
Bordeaux - wine region.
Climates categories - various wine climates can affect a vintage.
Domaine de Chevalier - wine producer in Bordeaux.
Puglia - Southern Italy.
Fiano - grape variety.
Lees - wine terminology.
DOC, DOCG - Italian wine classifications.
Chianti Classico - quality levels.
Planeta - Italian winery.
Donnafugata - Sicilian winery.
Zibibbo - grape variety, known outside of Italy as Muscat of Alexandria.
Soave / Gargenega - Northern Italian wine / grape variety.
Grillo - grape variety.
Gavi - Italian wine region.
Cortese - grape variety.
Roero Arneis - grape variety.
Verdicchio - grape variety.
Verdeca - grape variety.
Vermentino - grape variety.
Pecorino - grape variety.
As always please like, share and comment.
Stay Corked - Luke & Will


This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lukeflunder.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to our sixth podcast episode!
Raw, unfiltered with plenty of sediment.
Questions this week:
* 4 min 51 Which price point do we think you start to get more from wine?
* 9 mins 52 Our initial thoughts about Majestic potentially taking over Vagabond.
* 12 mins 38 Perfect wine to pair with an Easter egg.
* 15 mins 52 What is in our glass today?
* 19 mins 43 What do we think of the region where this wine comes from?
Will’s wine of the week:
Morgon Cuvee Corcelette, 2020, Jean Foillard
Luke’s thought of the week:
Deep listening

References:
Bush Vine - a way of growing a grapevine. No training.
Coravin - wine preservation system.
Vagabond X Majestic - Majestic to buy all or part of Vagabond.
Vagabond - London centric wine bar chain.
Recioto della Valpolicella - sweet version of Amarone della Valpolicella - an iconic Italian wine.
Banyuls - French wine region..
Sancerre - French wine region.
Bordeaux - French wine region.
Malbec - grape variety.
Primitivo - grape variety.
Canace Nero di Troia - wine from Puglia, Italy.
Morgon Cuvee Corcelette, 2020, Jean Foillard - available to buy.
Gamay - grape variety.
Beaujolais - wine area just south of Burgundy, France.
Burgundy - highly regarded wine region in Eastern France.
Pinot Noir - grape variety.
Intracellular Fermentation - wine-making procedure.
Interstellar - must watch movie.
Georges Duboeuf Fleurie - available at Sainsbury’s.
Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages - available at Tesco.
Moulin-à-Vent - one of the 10 Beaujolais Cru’s.
Cru’s, Grand Cru, Premier Cru - different quality levels of vineyards.
Morgon - one of the 10 Beaujolais Cru’s.
Fleurie - one of the 10 Beaujolais Cru’s.
Brouilly - one of the 10 Beaujolais Cru’s.
As always please like, share and comment.
Stay Corked - Luke & Will


This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lukeflunder.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to our fifth podcast episode!
Raw, unfiltered with plenty of sediment.
Questions this week:
* 1 min 28 Who is Natasha?
* 3 mins 32 Luke Flunder's Wine World & Substack?
* 6 mins 12 Techniques we've used to moderate our alcohol consumption since lockdown.
* 9 mins 09 What wine is in our glass today?
* 12 mins 21 The most romantic bottle of wine out there?
Will’s Natasha’s wine of the week:
Little Giant Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Check out - Luke’s video review.
Luke’s thought of the week:
If your supermarket only stocked wine from one country for a year, what would you want that country to be?

References:
Substack - A platform for writers and creators. Luke’s HQ of wine.
Donate :) - Luke is running the London Marathon
Secret Portuguese wine. More information will be sent out shortly - Luke’s & Natasha's ‘what’s in the glass’.
Alicante Bouschet - grape variety.
Shiraz - grape variety.
Portugal wine region. (map from Winalist)
Xinamavro - grape variety
Amarone della Valpolicella - Iconic Italian wine.
Champagne - The most famous sparkling wine from France.
Pinot Noir - Luke’s favourite grape variety.
As always please like, share and comment.
Stay Corked - Luke & Natasha


This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lukeflunder.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to our fourth podcast episode!
Raw, unfiltered with plenty of sediment.
Questions this week:
* 2 mins 36 What’s our take on wine apps?
* 7 mins 34 What is our preferred bottle opener?
* 12 mins 22 What is the most disappointing wine we’ve ever had?
* 15 mins 37 What wine is in our glass today?
* 19 mins 30 What wines do we think taste more expensive than they their price point?
Will’s wine of the week:
Domaine de Saint Guirons, 2016, Bordeaux, France
Reference: Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste - 5th Growth Pauillac, Bordeaux, France.
Luke’s thought of the week:
Be your own inspo

References:
Vivino - wine app.
Cellar Tracker - wine app.
Wine Folly - helpful wine book.
When Wine Tastes Best - biodynamic wine app.
Hundred Days - wine game app.
WSET - wine education app.
Waiters Friend - bottle opener.
Winged Angel - bottle opener.
Rabbit - bottle opener.
The Durand - bottle opener.
Butler’s Thief - bottle opener.
Electric - bottle opener.
Will’s disappointing wine - Cloudy Bay - Sainsbury’s.
Luke’s disappointing wine -“Tig” - Tignanello 1995 - Hedonism Wines.
Domaine de Villargeau Coteaux du Giennois Blanc - Luke’s ‘what’s in the glass’.
Picol Sauvignon Blanc, 2014, Lis Neris - Will’s ‘what’s in the glass’.
Sauvignon Blanc - grape variety.
Loire Valley - French wine region. (map from De Long)
Coteaux du Giennois - wine region in the Loire Valley.
Sancerre - wine region in the Loire Valley.
Quincy - wine region in the Loire Valley.
Menetou-Salon - wine region in the Loire Valley.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia - wine region in Northern Italy. (map from Beteta)
Riesling - grape variety.
Dönhoff - German winery.
Rioja - Spanish wine region.
Garnacha - grape variety.
Languedoc & Roussillon - Southern French wine region.
Pic Saint-Louis - wine commune of the Languedoc appellation.
Jerez - wine region in Spain.
As always please like, share and comment.
Stay Corked - Luke & Will


This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lukeflunder.substack.com/subscribe